Fabric measuring and cost computing apparatus

ABSTRACT

Apparatus for measuring out a length of fabric and for computing the cost of said length, having a measuring roller journalled for rotation on a horizontal shaft and a pressure roller resiliently contacting the measuring roller for gripping therebetween the fabric to be measured, the measuring roller rotating as the fabric is drawn between the rollers for driving indicating means which registers the length of the fabric measured out, and also for driving a cost computing double reel and web chart assembly for registering the cost of the fabric measured out. The apparatus has marking shears located in the vertical plane of the axis of the measuring roller permitting the true length of remnants to be directly registered by the indicating means. The cost computing chart assembly is removably carried by the apparatus for permitting quick removal of one chart assembly and replacement with another.

United States Patent [191 Somogye, J 1'.

[451 Jan. 29, 1974 FABRIC MEASURING AND COST COMPUTING APPARATUS [75]Inventor: Steve Somogye, Jr., Jennings, Mo.

[73] Assignee: The Measuregraph Company, St.

Louis, Mo.

['22] Filed: Dec. 8, I971 [21] Appl. No.: 205,883

[52] US. Cl. 33/133 [51] Int. Cl. G0lb 5/04 [58] Field of Search 33/129,132, 133; 242/674 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,336,2304/1920 Hoscha... 33/133 1,437,207 11/1922 Stocke 33/133 1,520,47112/1924 Hosch et al.. 33/133 1,628,091 5/1927 Wheeler et al. .1 33/1331,369,663 2/1921 l-losch 33/133 1,738,546 12/1929 Wheeler 33/1331,486,709 3/1924 Wheeler 1 33/129 1,421,863 7/1922 Turner 83/522ABSTRACT Apparatus for measuring out a length of fabric and forcomputing the cost of said length, having a measuring roller journalledfor rotation on a horizontal shaft and a pressure roller resilientlycontacting the measuring roller for gripping therebetween the fabric tobe measured, the measuring roller rotating as the fabric is drawnbetween the rollers for driving indicating means which registers thelength of the fabric measured out, and also for driving a cost computingdouble reel and web chart assembly for registering the cost ofthe'fabric measured out. The apparatus has marking shears located in thevertical plane of the axis of the measuring roller permitting the truelength of remnants to be directly registered by the indicating means.The cost computing chart assembly is removably carried by the apparatusfor permitting quick removal of one chart assembly and replacement withanother.

11 Claims, 23 Drawing Figures PAIENTEU AN I 8,787,981

sum 6 or 8 FABRIC MEASURING AND COST COMPUTING APPARATUS BACKGROUND OFTHE INVENTION and a pressure roller resiliently held against themeasuring roller for gripping the fabric therebetween, the measuringroller rotating on drawing the cloth between the rollers. A gear traindriven by the measuring roller drove an indicator which registered thelength of the cloth drawn between the rollers and also drove a pricecomputation chart for registering the price of the fabric measured out.Marking shears were provided to notch the margin of the fabric beingmeasured to mark off the desired length. In measuring the length of aremnant with the prior devices, the length indicated by the machine wasshorter than the actual length of the remnant, and it was necessary forthe clerk to add an increment (e.g., 1 inch) to the length indicated bythe machine to ascertain the true length of the remnant. Also, the pricecomputation charts of the prior machines were not readily prices, andthe prior machines were not well suited for the measurement of newtypesof fabrics, such as knit and double-knit fabrics, which arestretchable.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Among the several objects of this invention maybe noted the provision of a fabric measuring and cost computing'rnachine such as above described in which the length of a remnantregistered by the machine is the true length of the remnant and there isno necessity for the clerk to add any increment to the registeredlength; the provision of such a measuring machine having a price chartassembly adapted to be readily removed as a unit from the machine andreplaced by another; the provision of such a measuring machine in whichdulled marking shear blades may be readily removed from the machine andreplaced with sharp blades; theprovision of such a measuringmachinewhich has improved means for preventing spinning (overrun) of themeasuring roller in the event the trailing edge of the fabric beingmeasured is rapidly pulled past the measuring roller; the provision ofsuch a measuring machine which has an improved throat guard forpreventing a second piece of fabric from passing over the measuringroller without'first resetting the indicating means to zero; theprovision of such a measuring machine having a simplified mechanism forlocking the marking shear out of action between one-eighth yardincrements; and the provision of a simplified and improved track'forsuch a measuring machine permitting the machine to be slidably movedalong the track and secured in desired location.

Generally, apparatus of this, invention for measuring changeable onchange in ing a horizontal throat for passage therethrough of a marginof the fabric to be measured, a measuring roller carried by thesupporting means for rotation on a horizontal axis below the throat, anda pressure roller carried by the supporting means above the measuringroller and movable between a raised'retracted position in which it isclear of the measuring roller and a lowered contacting position in whichit is resiliently held against the measuring roller for grippingtherebetween the fabric to be measured,- whereby the rollers are causedto rotate without slippage as the fabric is drawn between the rollers.The apparatus further includes means operable in response to rotation ofthe measuring roller for indicating the length of fabric drawn betweenthe rollers and for registering the price of the length of fabric whichhas been drawn between the rollers. Means is provided for marking thefabric after a desired length thereof has passed between the rollers toindicate the length measured out, this marking means comprising a fixedshear blade positioned in the throat in the vertical plane of the axisof the measuring roller, and a movable shear blade carried by thesupporting means cooperable with the fixed shear blade for notching themarginof the cloth. The apparatus further includes means operable inresponse to actuation of the marking means for raising the pressureroller from its lowered contacting position to its raised retractedposition for permitting removal of the fabric from the throat and meansoperable to reset the indicating means and computation means to zero.

Other features and objects of this invention will be in part apparentand in part pointed out hereinafter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a plan view of a fabricmeasuring and cost computing apparatus of this invention showing theapparatus slidably mounted on a track secured to the edge of a salescounter;

FIG. 2 is a side elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away;

FIG. 3 is a front elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away;

FIG. 4 is a rear elevation of the apparatus with parts broken away;

FIG. 5 is an enlarged rear elevation of the upper portion of theapparatus with a case thereof removed;

FIG. 6 is an enlarged plan of the apparatus with the case and pricechart assembly removed and with parts broken away;

FIG. 7 is a view on line 7-7 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 8 is a view on line 8-8 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with parts removed and broken away;

FIG. 9 is a view similar to FIG. 7 with parts removed and broken away;

FIG. 10 is a vertical section on line 1010 of FIG. 9 showing meansoperable to raise the pressure roller from its lowered contactingposition to its raised retracted position;

FIG. 11 is a-view similar to FIG. 10 showing parts in positioncorresponding to the raised retracted position of the pressure roller;

FIG. 12 is a view on line 12-12 of FIG. 6;

FIG. 13 is a horizontal section on line 13-13 of FIG.

FIG. 14 is a vertical section on line 14-14 of FIG. 7;

FIG. 15 is a horizontal section on line 15- 15 of FIG.

FIG. 16 is a vertical section on line 16-16 of FIG.

FIG. 17 is a view showing the apparatus fixedly mounted on a modifiedmounting track;

7 FIG. 18 is a plan view of a price chart assembly re-. moved from theapparatus;

FIG. 19 is a vertical section on line 19-19 of FIG.

FIG. 20 isa vertical section online 2020 of FIG.

FIG. 21 is a front elevation of the price chart assembly installed inthe apparatus with parts of the apparatus shown in phantom;

FIG. 22 is a vertical section on line 22-22 of FIG. 23, showing athroat-blocking flap of the apparatus held down in its retractedposition by a length of cloth;

and

FIG. 23 is a view in elevation of the top of a shroud for a measuringroller of the apparatus, and showing the measuring roller and the flapof FIG. 22.

Corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout the several views of the drawings.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to the drawings,reference numeral 1 generally indicates apparatus made in accordancewith this invention for measuring and pricing lengths of fabric or clothfrom bolts, and for measuring and pricing fabric. or-cloth remnants.Generally, the apparatus comprises supporting means 2 having ahorizontal throat 3 for the passage therethrough of a margin of cloth tobe measured, a measuring roller 5 carried by the supporting means forrotation on a horizontal axis below the throat, and a pressure roller 7carried by the supporting means for rotation on a horizontal axis belowthe throat, and a pressure roller 7 carried by the supporting meansabove the measuring roller and movable between a raised retractedposition in which it is clear of the measuring roller, and a loweredcontacting position (see FIGS.- 2 and 3) in which it is resiliently heldagainst the measuring roller for gripping cloth C between the measuringroller and the pressure roller,

whereby the rollers are caused to rotate without slip page as the clothis drawn between them. The apparatus further includes means generallyindicated at 9 operable in response to rotation of measuring roller 5for indicating the length of cloth passing between the rollers. At 10 isgenerally indicated a price computation chart assembly operable inresponse to rotation of the measuring roller for registering the priceof the cloth measured out. A marking shear 11, positioned within throat3 in the vertical plane of the horizontal axis of measuring roller 5, isprovided for notching the margin of the cloth being measured out toindicate a desired length, and to show where the cloth is to be cut forsuch length. At 13 see FIG. 10 particularly) is indicated means operablein response to the actuation of marking shear 11 to raise the pressureroller 7 to its raised retracted position for permitting removal of thecloth from the throat and entry of another length of cloth in thethroat, and at 15 (see FIG. 2 particularly) is indicated means operableto reset length indicator means 9 and price computation chart assembly10 to zero for measuring out another length of cloth.

More particularly, the apparatus or machine 1 comprises a base 17, apedestal 19 extending up from the base, and a frame 21 (see FIG. 7)constituting the supporting means 2 having throat 3 therewithin. A cover23 is provided on the pedestal housing the mechanism of the apparatus,and having windows for viewing the length indicating means 9 and pricechart assembly 10. The base, the pedestal, and the cover are preferablymolded of plastic material. Base 17 engages a track 25 secured to theedge of a sales counter (or table) S to support the measuring machine ata convenient work ing position for use by a clerk to measure out clothfor a customer.

Referring to FIG. 7, the frame is shown to comprise a metal base plate26 on which various components of the apparatus are carried, this platebeing secured to the top of pedestal 19. A vertical mounting bracket 27is bent up from the left rear corner of base plate 26 (left as viewed inFIG. 7) and bracket 27 has a flange 29 bent outwardly at its forward endfor having a vertical support plate 31 secured thereto. A smoothsurfacedcurved platform 33, over which the margin of cloth to be measured is tobe drawn, is mounted on the base plate 26. This platform defines thelower rear surface of the throat 3. It has a recess 35 (see particularlyFIG. 20) formed therein at one end constituting its exit end to enablethe clerk, gripping the leading end of the cloth to be measured, tobring the leading end of the cloth back into the throat to position itfor being pulled between measuring roller 5 and pressure roller 7. Atthe rear side of this recess is a formation 36 having a rabbet 37 formounting a fixed blade of marking shear 11 in vertical position.

A chart support frame 39 is secured to the upper portion of supportplate 31 and extends outwardly therefrom (in the direction away from theclerk who stands behind the sales counter on which the measuring machineis mounted) above measuring roller 5 for mounting the price computationchart assembly 10 and a front part of the indicating means 9. This frame39 comprises a pair of side plates, the left side plate being indicatedat 41 and the right side plate being indicated at 43 as viewed from therear in FIG. 6, a rear angle member 45 having a vertical leg 47 adjacentthe upper front portion of support plate 31 and a horizontal leg 49extending forwardly from its vertical leg, and a front plate 51.Vertical leg 47 and front plate 51 have notches 53 and 55 provided intheir upper edges for releasably mounting the price computation chartassembly 10 in a manner that will appear. A trigger means 57 foreffecting lowering of pressure roller 7 from its raised retractedposition to its lowered contacting position is carried by support plate31 'above the platform 33. A stop bar linkage generally indicated at 59operable in response to actuation of the trigger of means 57 is carriedby side plate 43 for preventing lowering of pressure roller 7 if theleading edge of cloth C extends substantially beyond the vertical planeof the axis of measuring roller 5, or if reset means 15 has not beenoperated to reset the indicating means 9 and the price computation chartassembly 10 to zero. A reference price chart assembly 61 (as shown inFIG. 3) is carried by base plate 25 for information as to the price of aknown length of cloth without having to pass the cloth through themachine.

Trigger means 57 comprises a bracket 63 (FIG. 9) secured to supportplate 31 and extending out therefrom as a cantilever over the platform33. This bracket defines the top of the throat 3. A shaft 64 isjournalled in this bracket on a horizontal axis parallel to the axes ofrolls 5 and 7 in a vertical plane offset from the vertical axis ofroller 5 in the direction toward the entry end of the platfrom 33 (seeFIG. 6 particularly for this offset). This shaft has a-crank arm 65 onits forward end (see particularly FIG. 14). The pressure roller 7 isjournalled on a shaft'66' extending forward from the end of arm 65,parallel to and offset from the axis of shaft 64, the arrangement beingsuch that on rotation of shaft 64 on its axis, the pressure rollerswings up and down. At 67 (see particularly FIGS. 7, 9 and is indicatedthe trigger of means 57, pivoted on a shaft 69 within an opening 71 inthe bracket 63, and biased by a spring 73 toward the retracted positionin which it appears in FIG. 20. As will appear, shaft 64is rotatableinthe direction for raising the pressure roller 7 to its retracted oropen position in response to actuation of the marking shear 11 via means13, and is rotatable in the opposite direction for lowering the pressureroller in response to actuation of the trigger 67.

A pawl 75 (FIG. 14) pivotally carried on shaft 69 engages a ratchetwheel 77 fixed on shaft 64 for maintaining the pressure roller in itsraised retracted position after it has been raised thereto. This pawl ismoved out of engagement with ratchet wheel 77 when trigger 67 is movedto its actuating position for permitting the pressure roller to move toits lowered contacting position. A torsion spring 79 (FIG. 6)surrounding shaft'64 biases the pressure roller 7 down towards itslowered contacting position and resiliently holdsthe pressure rollerincontact with measuring roller 5 when the pressure roller is in itslowered contacting position for gripping cloth C therebetween. The forceexerted on the pressure roller when it is in its lowered contactingposition may be varied by varying the torsion of spring 79. As shown inFIG. 16, the right end of spring 79 is secured to a ratchet wheel 81carried on shaft 64, the ratchet wheelbeing held in position relative tosupport plate 31 bya pawl arm 83. The torsion of spring 79 may be variedby rotating ratchet wheel 81 to a new position which in turn twists oneend of spring 79 (its left end as viewed in FIG. 6) relative to itsother end secured to ratchet wheel 77 to increase or decrease it torsionand thus increases or decreases the gripping force exerted on thepressure roller. Pawl arm 83 is held in engagement with ratchet wheel 81by a pivoted lug 84.

Stop bar linkage 59 (see particularly FIG. 7) comprises a stop bar 85carried by side plate 43 at the front thereof, this bar being verticallymovable between a raised retracted position (as shown in FIG. 7) inwhich it is clear of throat 3 and a lowered extended position in whichit extends down below the bottom of the throat. It is moved between itsraised retracted position and its lowered extended position by a lever87 pivoted on side plate 43 at 89. Bar 85 has its upper end pinconnectedto the forward end of lever 87 as indicated at 90. A hairpin spring 91biases lever 87 to swing upwardly to return and maintain stop bar 85 inits raised retracted position.

. Lever 85 is swingable downward in response to movement of trigger 67to its actuating position. As shown in FIG. 14, trigger 67 has a finger93 adapted to engage an idler'link 95 pivoted on shaft 69. ldler link 95is cooperable with a finger 97 formed on the lower end of a verticalslide bar 99 which is resiliently connected to lever 87 intermediatepivot 89 and stop bar 85 for effecting downward movement of the stop barwhen trigger 67 is moved to its actuated position. Slide bar 99 haselongate vertical slots moved and 103, and a pin 104 secured to sideplate 43 extends through slot 101 and a pin 105 secured to lever 87extends through slot' 103, whereby slide bar 99 is movable relative toside plate 43 and to lever 87. Slide bar 99 is resiliently connected tolever 87 by a spring 106 which has sufficient tension to move lever 87and stop bar 85 downwardly as trigger 67 is mvoed to its actuatingposition, but permits relative motion (lost motion) between the slidebar and lever 87 in the event stop bar 85 is restrained from moving toits lowered extended position by cloth extending out beyond measuringroller 5.

Stop bar linkage59 further includes a horizontal slide bar 107 slidablysecured on side plate 43 by pin 104 and by a pin 109, these pinsprotruding through horizontal elongate slots 1 1 1 in the slide bar. Anoffset 113 is formed inthe forward end of slide bar 107 (its right endviewed in FIG. 7) for clearance between slide bar 107 and stop bar 85.The rear edge of stop bar 85 is cut out as indicated at 115 to form aninclined cam surface 117 and the forward end of horizontal slide bar 107carries a cam follower pin 1 l9 engageable with the cam surface formoving the horizontal slide bar to the left from a locking position (asshown in FIG. 7) to an open position as stop bar 85 moves downwardly toits lowered extended position. Vertical slide bar 99 has an inwardlyextending stop 121 formed on its 'rear edge and horizontal slide bar 107has an upwardly extending lug 123 formed on its upper edge, the stopbeing engageable with the lug when slide bar 107 is in its lockingposition to prevent full downward movement of slide bar 99 with itsfinger 97 (see FIG. 14) which in turn prevents trigger 67 from fullymoving to its actuating position for moving pawl 75 out of engagementwith ratchet wheel 77 for releasing pressure roller 7 from its raisedretracted position. When horizontal slide bar 107 is moved to its openposition by cam surface 117; lug 123 is clear of 'stop l2l,- andvertical slide bar 99 is free to move downwardly to permit trigger 67 tofully move to its full actuating position to rotate pawl 77 therebyreleasing pressure roller 7 from its raised retracted position andpermitting it to move to its lowered contacting position. A pivoted stop125 carried on the back face of support plate 31 is pivotally movablebetween a stop position in which its lower end is in position to blockthe movement of horizontal slide bar 107 from its locking position toits open position and a retracted position permitting movement of thehorizontal slide bar to its open position. A pin 127 carried by stop 125engages side plate 43 to prevent movement of stop beyond its stopposition, and a spring 129 resiliently connects pin 127 to support plate31 to .bias stop 125 toward its stop position. Stop 125 is movable fromits open retracted position to its stop position in response to movementof indicating means 9 from zero, and it is movable from its stopposition to-its open retracted position in response to resetting of theindicating means and the price computation chart assembly 10 t0 zero ina manner as will appear. Thus, the stop bar linkage 59 prevents loweringof the pressure roller whenever stop bar 85 is prevented from moving toits lowered extended position by the cloth C or whenever indicatingmeans 9 has not been reset to zero.

As shown in FIGS. 7-9, measuring roller is supported in front ofplatform 33 with the top of the measuring roller at substantially thesame elevation as the upper surface of the platform. A gear housing 131having a boss 133 extending therefrom is secured to platform 33. A driveshaft 135 is carried by antifriction bearings (not shown) in the boss133, this shaft extending out beyond the forward end of the boss.Measuring roller 5 is a cylindric rollmade of aluminum, for example, theouter diameter of which is accurately machined to have a specifieddimension. As shown in FIG. 7, measuring roller 5 is counterbored fromthe back to accommodate boss 133 and its front face 137 is machined topresent a smooth surface. Drive shaft 135 extends through a hole 139 infront face 137 and the angular position of the measuring roller is fixedrelative to the drive shaft'by a Woodruff key 141. The outer surface ofthe measuring roller is provided with a plurality of annular grooves 143into which thread strands which sometimes trail behind the trailing edgeof a remnantmay' drop to avoid having these thread strands grippedbetween the pressure roller and the measuring roller to preventindicator means 9 from registering a length longer than the actuallength of the remnant. The outer cylindric surfaces of the rollerbetween grooves 143 are knurled as indicated at 145 to facilitatepositive gripping of cloth C between the measuring roller and pressureroller to prevent slippage of the cloth on the measuring roller as thecloth travels thereover. I

An anti-spin or anti+overrun and anti-reverse ratchet wheel 147 ismounted on the outer end of drive shaft 135 with its back face incontact with the front face 137-of measuring roller 5. This ratchetwheel is resiliently held in frictional contact with the front face ofthe measuring roller by means of a compression coil spring 149. The coilspring, the ratchet wheel, and the measuring roller are secured on thedrive shaft by means of a snap ring 151 at the outer end of the driveshaft. Ratchet wheel 147 is free to rotate on the drive shaft butnormally rotates with the measuring roller.

As shown in FIGS. 1-3, measuring roller 5 is housed in shroud 153 whichextends forward from the upper end portion of pedestal 19 and whichenclosed all but the top of the measuring roller. The top of the, shroudis an extension of the top of the platform 33 and their upper surfacestogether constitute the lower throat surface. Shroud 153 is formed ofplastic material, for example, and has an opening 157 in its top-for theroller 7 and for a throat guard means constituted by a flap 155 movablebetween a lowered retracted position in which its upper surface issubstantially tangent to the top of the shroud (and to the top of themeasuring roller), and a raised throat-blocking position (shown in FIG.3) in which it blocks throat 3 adjacent measuring roller 5 and pressureroller 7 to prevent the passage of a second piece of cloth through thethroat until marking-shear 11 has been actuated to raise pressure roller7 to its raised retracted position. As previously noted, the pressureroller may not be lowered to its operative position until the indicatingmeans 9 and the price computation chart assembly have been reset to zeroto permit horizontal slide bar 107 to move from its stop position topermit movement of trigger 67 to its actuating position. Thus, flap 155,together with slide bar 107, prevents a second piece-of cloth from beingmeasured until the indicating and price computation means have beenreset to zero and the pressure roller has been raised to its raisedretracted position.

Flap 155 is pivoted on a pin 159 at the end of opening 157 toward theentry end of the top of the shroud (its right end as viewed in FIG. 3)and is biased toward its raised blocking position as by a torsion spring158. It has a finger 163 at its free end for engagement with a pawl 165for holding it in itsraised blocking position whenever pressure roller 7is in its lowered contacting position. Pawl 165 is pivotally carried onfront plate 51 and is movable between a latching position (as shown inFIG. 3) in which it is in position to engage finger 163 and anunlatching position in which it is clear of the finger. The pawl isgravity biased to assume its latching position (i.e., to swingcounterclockwise as viewed in FIG. 3) and is movable to its unlatchingposition in response to movement of pressure roller 7 from its loweredcontacting position to its raised retracted position, as will appear.

As shown in FIG. 3, an anti-spin (or anti-overrun) and anti-reverse pawl167 is pivoted at 169 within the shroud 153. This anti-spin andanti-reverse pawl is movable between an operative position (as shown inFIG. 3) in which it engages ratchet wheel 147 to hold the latter andhence measuring roller 5 from rotating in forward or rearward directionin the event the trailing edge of the cloth passes from between therollers, and a retracted position in which it is clear of the ratchetwheel. Pawl 167 is biased toward its operative position by a spring 171,and is movable to its retracted position by the camming action of a pin173 carried by flap engaging a follower am 175 of the pawl to pivot thepawl away from ratchet wheel 147 as the flap is swung down to itslowered retracted position. Thus, pawl 167 and flap 155 togetherconstitute anti-spin or anit-overrun and anti-reverse means operable inresponse to the trailing edge of the cloth being measured passingthrough the coacting measuring roller 5 and pressure roller 7 forstopping ratchet wheel 147 from rotating forward (and thus preventingindicating means 9 from registering a greater length than was actuallymeasured out) and also for holding it from rotating rearward (and thuspreventing negation of the measurement).

A slot 177 is provided in the upper surface of shroud 153 adjacent thefront left corner thereof (as viewed in FIG. 23) for receiving stop bar85 when it is moved to its lowered extended position. A mounting bracket179 is formed within shroud 153 to secure it to base plate 26.

As seen in FIGS. l-3, the length indicating means 9 for registering thelength of cloth drawn between measuring roller 5 and'pressure roller 7comprises a front facing dial indicated at 181 for viewing by thecustomer, and an upwardly facing dial indicated at 183 for viewing bythe sales clerk. Each dial has indicating hands I-I driven in responseto rotation of the measuring roller by means of a gear and belt drivetrain generally iridicated at 184 (see FIGS. 9-1l). More particu-vlarly, rotation of measuring roller 5 causes rotation of drive shaft 135(FIGS. 7-9) and of a pinion 185 fixed on the back end of the drive shaftwithin gear housing 131'. This pinion meshes with a gear 187 carried ona example, is trained around drive pulley 195 and an upper pulley 201,the latter being carried on an indicator drive shaft 203. This indicatordrive shaft simultaneously drives indicator hands H for both dials 181and 183 and is carried by a bracket 205 secured to support plate 31.Shaft 203 is journalled in supportplate 31,

and extends forward therefrom within chart support frame 39 for drivingthe front dial indicator hands. A vertical spindle 207 is carried bybracket 205 and by asupport bracket 208 (see FIG.- 12) for driving theupper dial indicator hands as' will appear. A bevel gear 209 carried onthe back end of indicator drive shaft 203 meshes with a crown gear 211carried by spindle 207 for driving the spindle. An indicator handdriving mechanism, generally indicated at 213 in FIG. 12, is driven byspindle 207 for driving an inch indicating hand 215 for the upwardlyfacing dial one revolution in response to the passage of one yard ofcloth between the measuring roller and the pressure roller 7. Mechanism213 also drives a "yard indicating hand 217 onetenth ofarevolution asthe inch hand rotates one revolutionQAn' indicator hand'drivingmechanism 219, similar to mechanism 213, is provided for driving an inchindicator hand 221 and a yard indicator hand 223 for the front facingdial 181 to simultaneously register on front dial 181 the length ofcloth measured out. Both indicator hand driving mechanisms 213 and 219are well-known in the art and may be similar to the correspondingmechanisms disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 1,458,606. A chart roll drivepinion 225 (FIG. 6) is carried by indicator drive shaft 203 adjacent theback face of front plate 51 of support frame 39 for driving the pricecomputation chart assembly in a manner as will appear.

The gears and pulleys provided on drive shaft 135 and on countershaft189 constitute a lower gear train, generally indicated at 184a, drivenby measuring roller 7, the gears and pulleys provided on shaft 203constitute an upper gear train, generally indicated at 184b, for drivingindicator hands H and price chart assembly 10,.and belt 199 constitutesa belt drive from the lower gear trainto the upper gear train.

'As shown'in FIG. 12, shaft 203 has a pinion 227 fixed forrotationthereon adjacent the back face of support plate 31, this pinionmeshing witha spur gear 229 carried on a shaft 231 for driving a speedgovernor generally indicated at 233 (e. g, a centrifugal governor) whichlimits the speed of rotation of indicating means 9 and chart assembly 10while they are being reset to zero by reset means 15. Shaft 231 iscarried by support plate 31 and by support bracket 208 and has a gear235 fixed on its back'end meshing with a spur gear 237 carried by thespeed governor for driving the governor at a speed substantially fasterthan the speed of the rotation of indicator drive shaft 203. Shaft 231also carries a notched index wheel 239 adjacent the back face of supportplate 31.

As shown in FIG. 18, the price computation chart assembly 10 includes achart frame 241, a pair of chart rolls or reels mounted in the chartframe, and a web wound on the rolls or reels constituting a price chart243. The price chart web is wound on one of the chart rolls, this rollbeing indicated at 245 and constituting a storage roll, with its leadingend portion wound around the other chart roll, this other roll beingindicated at 247 and constituting a take-up roll. Chart frame 241 isformed of sheet metal or the like, and

comprises a centralplate 249 with front and rear flanges 251 and 252,respectively, bent down from the plate at its ends. Chart roll 245 iscarried on shaft 253 and chart roll 247 is carried on a shaft 255, theseshafts being journalled in the flanges and extending out beyond theflanges for removably mounting price chart assembly 10 in the chartsupport frame 39. A gear 257 is carried on shaft 255; this gear meshes(see FIG. 21) with chart roll drive pinion 225 carried on indicatordrive shaft 203 for driving take-up roll 247 to wind the price chartthereon as measuring roller 5 is rotated. Storage roll 245 has a torsionrewind spring 259 therewithin for rewinding chart 243 back onto thestorage roll and for resetting both sets of indicating hands 215,217 and221,223 to zero when reset means 15 is actuated.

On price chart 243, columns of computed numbers are provided asindicated at 261 and 262 which are, respectively, in alignment with thenumbers on two stationary scales'263 and 265 carried by central plate249 of the chart frame. The numbers comprising the scales indicatedifferent price rates per yard and the computed columns of numbers 261and 262 indicate the charge to bemade at the different price rates shownon scales 263 and 265 for the length of cloth measured out and indicatedby the indicator hands H for the dials 181 and 183. Columns 261 areprinted on. one face of chart 243 and columns 262 are printed on theother face of theichart and the latter is wound around roll 245 so thatit passes from, the bottom of roll 245 to the top of roll 247. Thus,when a column 261 corresponding to the yardage shown ,by indicatinghands H is visible from above on roll 245, a corresponding column 262 isvisible from above on roll 247 whereby the price of the cloth measuredout may be readily determined by finding the correct price rate per yardon either scale 263 or 265and looking at the adjacent column 261 or 262.p

The ends of chart roll shaft 253 are received in notches 55 (FIGS. 7 and8) in vertical leg 47 and in front plate 51, and the ends of chart rollshaft 255 are received in notches 53 in the vertical leg and in thefront plate in a manner such that the price chart assembl y 10 isremovably mounted insupport frame 39 in such manner as tofacilitate-quick removal and replacement of price chart assemblies. Asshown in FIG. 8, notches 53 are angled downwardly and inwardly towardindicator drive shaft 203 for holding shaft 255 in proper relation tothe indicator drive shaft 203 with gear 257 meshing down from above withpinion 225 (see FIG. 21). A detent spring 267 is secured to the frontface of front plate 51 adjacent slot 55 therein for holding shaft 253 inposition within the frame. The price chart assembly is installed'withinsupport frame 39 simply by placing the ends of shaft 255 in notches 53(insuring that gear 257 meshes with pinion 225) and rotating theassembly about the axis of shaft 255 until the ends of shaft 253 arereceived within notches 55 and detent spring 267 snaps over the forwardend of shaft 253. The price chart assembly 10 may be readily removed bypushing up on chart roll 245 from below to rotate the assembly aboutshaft 255 and then lifting the price chart assembly clear of supportframe 39. Pinion 225 and gear 257 constitute a quickdisengageable drivemeansfor the chart assembly permitting the chart assembly to be readilyremoved from or installed in chart support frame 39.

The fixed blade of marking shear 11, designated 269, extends forwardthroughan opening 271 in support plate 31, being received in rabbet 37in platform 33 with the cutting edge of the fixed blade (its uppergenerally horizontal edge) at substantially'the same elevation as theupper surface of the platform. A movable shear blade 273 cooperates withthe fixed blade, this movable blade being movable between a raisedretracted position (as shown in FIG. 7) in which the movable blade isclear of throat 3 permitting cloth C to pass therethro-ugh and a loweredcutting position in which the movable blade cooperates shearwise withthe fixed blade to notch the margin of the cloth being measured out tomark off a desired length. Both the fixed blade and the movable bladeare pivotally mounted on a hollow shaft 275 supported by mountingbracket 27. The fixed blade 269 bears against the outer face of bracket27 and the movable blade 273 is pivotally mounted on shaft 275 outwardlyof the fixed blade and bears against the outer face of the fixed blade.A pin 276(see FIG. 7) extends from the back of blade 269 into a h'ole278in bracket 27 to hold blade 269 against rotation. An operating arm 277is carried on the shaft 275 adjacent the movable blade. Theselastmentioned members (269, 273 and 277) are resiliently held in contactwith one another on shaft 275 by means of a compression 'coil spring 279(see FIG.

and a nut 280 threaded on shaft 275. This spring biases the movableblade axially inwardly on the shaft and maintainsface-to-face-engagement between the shear bladesand permits pivoting ofthe movable shear blade. A tension coil spring 281 connected betweenflange 29 and a pin on the back end of movable blade 273 biases themovable blade to its raised retracted position. By backing off nut 280and removing spring 279 dull shear blades may be readily removed fromshaft 275 and replaced with sharp ones. Blade 269 is removed by slidingit toward the outer 'end of shaft'275 to disengage pin 276 from hole278, then swinging blade 269 up through slot 271, and then sliding itoff shaft 275. v I

Marking shear 11 is prevented from being actuated except when theindicator hands 215 and 221 of indicating means 9 register one-eighthyard increments by latching or lockout means, generally indicated at282, thus preventing odd-length pieces of cloth from being measured out.As shown in- FIGS. 10 and 11, this lock out means includes a lookoutlever 283 pivoted on the back face of support plate 31 at 285 having acatch 287 at one end (its left end as shown in FIGS. 10 and 11)engageable with index wheel 239. The other end of lever 283 is receivedin a ,slot 289 (see FIG. 7) in movable blade 273. Lever 283 is movablebetween a latching or lockout position (FIG. 10) in which catch 287 ison or above the periphery of index wheel 239 and a retracted position(FIG. 11) in which catch 287 is received in a notch 291 in the indexwheel permitting the lever to rotate about pivot 285 for movement of thelever clear of slot 289 in blade 273. A spring 293 biases lever 283toward its retracted position.

As shown in FIG. 7, slot 289 slopes downwardly and forwardly in movableblade 273. The upper surface of this slot indicated at 295 is formed torotate lever 283 against the bias of spring 293 toits locking positionwhen the movable blade is raised from its cutting position to itsretracted position. The substantially vertical rear surface 297 of theslot is engagable with lever 283 when catch 287 is not in position to bereceived by a notch 291 in the index wheel. Thus, as movable blade 273is rotated down toward its cutting position, lever 283 is permitted torotate under the bias of spring 293 toward its retracted position bysurface 295. If a notch 291 in index wheel 239 is not in position toreceive catch 287, the catch will engage the periphery of the indexwheel and prevent the lever from fully rotating to its retractedposition such that slot surface 297 engages lever 283 thus preventingfurther movement of the movable blade. toward its cutting position.Index wheel 239 is provided with four notches 291 in its periphery andthe index wheel is rotated two revolutions for each yard of clothmeasured so that one of the notches is in position to receive catch 287each time an additonal one-eighth yard increment of cloth passes throughthe rollers 5 and 7. Thus, the marking shear 11 can be operated only tonotch cloth at one-eighth yard intervals.

As heretofore mentioned, apparatus of this invention includes means 13operable in response to operation of marking shear 11 to raise thepressure roller 7 from its lowered contacting position to its raisedretracted position. More particularly, this means includes a headed pin299 rotatable in hollow shaft 275. As shown in FIG. 13, pin 299 extendsthrough bracket 27 and is held within the hollow shaft by its head 301on the inner side of the bracket and by a snap ring 303 adjacent itsouter end. Head 301 has a finger 305 foractuating a linkage for raisingthe pressure roller. I

Movable shear blade 273 and pin 299' are simultaneously rotated againstthe bias of spring 281 by movement of a crank handle 307 carried bypin'299. The movable blade has a lug 309 secured thereto and the outerend of the pin is machined flat as indicated at 31 l with the crankhandle positively engaging lug 309 and flats 311 as shown in FIG. 4. Thecrank handle is secured to pin 299by a snap ring 313. Finger 305cooperates with an idler lever 315 for counterclockwise rotation of thelever (as viewed in FIGS. 10 and 11) as crank handle 307 is swungforward to actuate marking shear ll. Lever 315 is pivoted at 317 on theback face of support plate 31 and carries a pin 319 at its upper end.Pin 319 is received in a slot 321 in a bifurcated crank 323 which isaffixed to the back end of shaft 64. Thus, as finger 305- is rotatedrbycrank handle 307, idler lever 315 rotates crank 323 and shaft 64counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. 10) to raise pressure roller 7 fromits lowered contacting position to its raised retracted position.

Support plate 31 also pivotally carries an anti-reverse pawl 325 whichis engageable with anti-reverse ratchet wheel 193 carried oncountershaft 189 to'prevent reverse rotation of measuring roller 5 whenpressure roller 7 is in its raised retracted position. Pawl 325 ispivoted at 327 on support plate 31 and is movable between a retractedposition (as shown in FIG. in which countershaft 189 is free to rotatein reverse direction and an operative position (as shown in FIG. 11) inwhich the pawl engages ratchet wheel 193. Pawl 325 is resilientlyconnected to idler lever 315 by a spring 329 and has an upper arm 331which is adapted to engage the lower corner of the idler lever asindicated at 333. Thus, as the idler lever is rotated clockwise onraising the pressure roller, spring 329 biases pawl 325 to its operativeposition and'as the idler lever is rotated counterclockwise as uponlowering of the pressure roller, the lower corner 333 of the idler levercontacts arm 331 and forces pawl 325 to its retracted position clear ofthe ratchet against the bias of spring 329.

Reset means 15 comprises a bell crank lever 335 operable by a rotaryknob 337 to disengage clutch assembly 197 and in turn disconnectcountershaft 189 and measuring roller 5 from the gear and belt train184, thereby permitting the torsion spring 259 in chart roll 245 todrive the indicating hand mechanisms 213 and 219 and chart rolls 245 and247 in reverse to reset indicating hands H and price chart assembly 10to zero. Bellcrank 335 is pivoted on a vertical pin 339 extending upfrom base plate 26 and has a clutch shifting fork 341 which engages aflange 343 on clutch cone 345. This clutch cone is rotatable withcountershaft 189 but is axially slidable therealong between an engagedposition in which drive pulley 195 is gripped by the cone (as shown inFIG. 12) causing the pulley to rotate with the counter-shaft and adisengaged position in which 'the clutch cone is clear of the drivepulley permitting the drive pulley to freely rotate on the countershaft.As shown in FIG. 9, clutch cone 345 is biased toward its engagedposition by a compression spring 347 which surroundsthe rear portion ofcountershaft 189 and which is held thereon by a washer 349. Bell crank335 has an arm 351 which extends rearwardly from pin 339 to cooperatewith knob 337. This knob is rotatably mounted in pedestal 19 and has aflat camming surface 353 at its upper end for engaging arm 351 wherebyrotation of knob 337 in either direction causes the bell crank to rotateon pin 339 to move clutch cone 345 r'earwardly to' disengage drivepulley 195 from countershaft 189., I r

At 354 (see FIG. 5) is indicated a member of generally inverted U-shapesecured to the lower end of bracket 208 and base plate 26 and flange 27.At 357 is indicated a vertical shaft which is rotatable between a zeroposition and an advanced or measuring position. It is reset to its zeroposition in response to resetting of the indicator hands H to zero; itis movable from its zero to its advanced position. in response tooperation of the indicating mechanism 213 and 219. This shaft is carriedbetween the bracket 208 and member 354. As shown in FIG. 15, it carriesan arm 359 adjacent its upper end. The forward end of this arm has afinger 361 formed thereon engageable with pin 127 on stop 125 to movethe stop from its stop position to its retracted position for permittingmovement of horizontal slide bar 107 from its locking position whenshaft 357 isin its zero position and being clear of pin 127 (and thuspermitting the stop to assume its stop position) when shaft 357 is inits measuring position. The rear end of arm 359 constitutes a zeroreturn stop pawl, as indicated at 36. which is engageable with a notch365 in a stop wheel 367 on spindle 207 when shaft 357 is in its zeroposition for preventing reverse rotation of the indicating drivemechanisms 213 and 219 beyond their zero indicating positions.

Shaft 357 is rotated between its zero position and its advancedmeasuring position by means of a finger 369 carried by the shaftengageable by a lug 371 carried by indicator driving mechanism 213. Lug371. rotates at the speed of yard indicating hand 217 (i.e., one-tenthrevolution per yard of cloth measured out) and is positioned to engagefinger 369 when indicating hands l-I indicate zero. Immediately uponmovement of the indicating hands 1-1 from their zero position, lug 371moves out of engagement with finger 369 and shaft 357 and arm 359 arecaused to rotate from their zero positions to their measuring positionsby a spring 372 for permitting stop to move to its stop position and formoving stop pawl 363 clear of notch 36S. Upon actuating reset means 15,lug 371 contacts finger 369 as the indicating hands approach their zeroposition to rotate shaft 357 and arm 359 from their measuring positionsto their zero positions whereby stop-125 is moved to its open positionand stop pawl 363 engages notch 365 in stop wheel 367 to prevent reverserotation of the indicating hand and price charts 245 and 247 beyondtheir zero positions.

As shown in FIG. 12, a rotary dial 373 (Le, a totalizer dial) isprovided in the upper dial face 183 for indicating multiples of ten whenthe apparatus of this invention is used to measure out lengths of clothgreater than ten yards. Dial' 373 is carried by a bracket 375 secured tobracket 208 and isincrementally moved to indicate an additional IO-yardincrement of measure by a finger 377 (FIG. 12) carried by indicatordriving mechanism 213, this finger being rotated at the speed of hand217 (i.e., one revolution per 10 yards of cloth measured out) and beingpositioned to engage the totalizer dial to move it one increment as thesmall hand indicates ten yards. Totalizer dial 373 is spring biased toreturn to zero and is held in position when it has been incrementallymoved by a pawl indicated at 379 in FIG. 7 carried by bracket 208. Pawl379 is moved clear of the totalizer dial to permit the dial to return tozero upon rotation of crank handle 307 to operate marking shear 11.Rotation of the crank handle causes arm 277 to rotate and to contactpawl 379 to permit the indicating dial to escape from the pawl. Thus,indicating dial 373is reset to zero only upon operation of the markingshear. r

A clutch disengage pawl 381 (FIG. 13) pivotally mounted on member 355 isbiased by spring 383 to engage shifting fork 341 when bell crank 335 isrotated to disengage clutch cone 345 from drive pulley to prevent theclutch cone from returning to its engaging position until the indicatinghands and price chart assembly 10 have been returned to their zeropositions. This enables the indicating hands and price chart assembly tobe returned to zero (which may take from one or two seconds) withouthaving to manually hold reset knob 337 while the hands and chart arereturning to their zero positions. Disengage pawl 381 is moved out ofengagement with shifting fork 341 by an arm 385 carried by shaft 357 asthe shaft is rotated to its zero position as heretofore described.

In the event the length of cloth to be measured out exceeds ten yards,the indicating handsand price chart must be reset to zero. In thisregard, a stop generally indicated at 387 (see FIGS. 10 and 11) isprovided to prevent rotation of measuring roller until the indicatinghands and price chart have been-reset to zero. Stop 387 includes a pawl389 pivoted on pin 317, this pawl being movable in response to theindicating hands H registering ten yards (or a few inches more thanyards) to engage stop wheel 192 (FIG. 9) to prevent further forwardrotation of the measuring roller. Pawl 389 has an elongate resilient rod391 secured to its upper end, this rod'being positioned to engage arm359 as lug 371 rotating with indicating means 213 engages finger 369 androtates shaft 357 counterclockwise (as viewed in FIG. as indicatinghands H register 10 yards thereby rotating pawl.389 to engage stop wheel192 preventing further forward rotation on the measuring roller. Uponinitiating the resetting of the indicating hands H and price chartassembly 10 to' zero, lug 371 moves out of engagement with finger 369permitting shaft 357 and arm 359 to be returned to their measuringposition thus permitting pawl 389 to be moved clear of stop wheel 192 bya spring 393. 7

As shown in FIGS. 1-4, base 17 bears on track member 25, which is shownto be an angle-shaped member having a horizontally disposed leg 395secured to the upper surface of sales counter S or the like by screws397, and a vertical leg 399 extending down from the horizontal leg alongthe vertical edge of the sales counter. The rear edge (the left edge asshown in FIG. 2) of the horizontal leg overhangs vertical leg 399 and isradiused as indicated at 401, and the front edge of the horizontal legis beveled as indicated at 403. Base 17 has a recess 405 formed thereinfor a sliding fit on the track and is formed as shown in FIG. 2 to fitunder the bevel 403 at the inner side of this recess. Base 17 has adownwardly extending lip 406 at its rear disposed on the outside ofvertical leg 399. Adjusting screws 407 (of nylon or the like) arethreaded in tapped holes in this lip with their inner ends engageablewith vertical leg 399. The force required to slide the base along thetrack may be varied by adjusting these screws to exert more or lessfriction on the track. End caps 409 are provided at the ends of thetrack to prevent the base from sliding off the track.

End caps 409 each have a horizontal portion indicated at 411 which abutsand cooperates with horizontal track leg 395, avertical portion 413which abuts and cooperates with vertical leg 399, and a tab 415 (asshown in FIG. 1) which is received in a groove 417 (as shown in FIG. 2)formed in the bottom of horizontal track leg 395. These end caps areheld in abutting relation withthe ends of track member by screws 419 andtabs 415. Each end cap has a gusset 421 engageable by lip 406 to preventthe base from sliding endwise off the track.

As shown in FIG. 17, a shorter piece of track, as indicatt d. a 423 maybe provided, this shorter track member being substantially similar totrack member 25 as heretofore described. Track member 423 issubstantially the length of base .17 and two holes 425 are prodicatinghands H and the price chart assembly 10 to zero and by operating crankhandle'7 to insure that pressure roller 7 is in its raised retractedposition. The measuring apparatus is then ready to receive the cloth tobe measured. Preferably, the clerk stands behind the apparatus with thecloth to be measured supported on the sales counter in front of theapparatus. She grasps the cloth with a marginof the cloth substantiallyadjacent the measuring apparatus and with the leading edge of the clothgrasped by her right hand at the corner thereof. With flap 155 held downin its lowered retracted position, the margin of the cloth toward theclerk is placed in throat 3, and the cloth is pulled back toward theedge of the counter until the margin of the cloth is in contact with theback of the throat (i.e., support plate 31). The clerk then moves thecloth to her left until her right thumb contacts trigger 67, andactuates it to lower pressure roller 7 to its contacting position. Itwill be observed that the trigger is positioned relative to the fixedshear blade 269 and the rollers 5 and 7 for engagement by the usersthumb as the ,user, grasping a corner of the cloth at its leading endbetween thumb and forefinger, inserts the cloth between i the rollersand moves it in rearward direction relative to the direction in whichthe cloth moves through the apparatus when being measured, with thetrigger being operable to effect the lowering of the pressure roller 7when the users thumb moves rearward of the vertical plane through theaxis of the measuring roller 5 to grip the leading end of the cloth inthe nip of the rollers substantially in said vertical plane. In thisregard, rear ward is to the right as viewed in FIGS. 3 and 20. With thepressure roller lowered, the clerk draws the desired length of cloththrough the rollers 5 and 7, the indicator hands I! for the top dialface 183 and on the front dial face 181 registering the length measuredout. When the desired length has been measured out, the clerk pushesforward and down on crank handle 307 to operate marking shear 11 tonotch the margin of the fabric within throat 3 and to raise the pressureroller to its raised retracted position to permit removal of the clothfrom the throat. The price (in dollars and cents) of the length of clothmeasured out is shown on the price chart 243 opposite the price per yardscales 263 or 265 on chart frame plate 249.

As described above, lockout means 282 prevents operation of markingshear 1 1 except when the indicat ing hands 215 and 221 indicateone-eighth yard increments to prevent odd-length measurements. It,however, one wishes to make an odd-length measurement (two and one-thirdyards, for example), the apparatus of this invention may still be usedto measure out the desired length, to compute the price of the fabric,and to notch the fabric to indicate the desired length by slightlyvarying the operating procedure. The cloth is placed in the apparatusand the desired length is measured out as described above, except thatafter the desired length has been measured out, the clerk notes theprice as registered on price chart 243 and then turns knob 337 to resetthe indicating hands H and the price chart to zero. The crank handle 307may then be swung to notch the cloth at the desired location and topermit removal of the fabric from throat 3.

In accordance with this invention, a remnant (i.e., a piece of clothhaving a trailing edge which will pass between measuring roller 5 andpressure roller 7) may be directly measured by the apparatus of thisinvention I 17 without having to add or subtract from the yardageregistered by the indicating hands 180. Since marking shear ll islocated in the vertical plane of the axis of measuring roller 7 (asshown in FIG. 8), the length indicated by the indicating hands H is thesame length as will be marked by the shears thus eliminating therequirement for adding an increment to the length registered by theindicating hands.

The use of anti-friction bearings for journalling shafts 135 and 185 andthe use of belt 199 substantially reduces the force required to rotatemeasuring roller 7. Thus, new types of stretch fabrics (i.e., knits anddouble knits) may be measured by this apparatus in the mannerabove-described without such stretching of the fabric as it is drawnthrough the rollers as would vitiate accurate length measurement;Despite this freerunning characteristic of the measuring roller, it iseffectively precluded from overrunning in the measurement of length of aremnant by the anti-overrun means In view of the above, it will be seenthat the several objects of the invention areachieved and otheradvantageous results attained.

As various changes could be made in the above constructions withoutdeparting from the scope of the invention, it is intended that allmatter contained in the above description or shown in the accompanyingdrawings shall be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limitingsense.

What is claimed is:

1. Apparatus for measuring out lengths of cloth or the like comprising:

supporting means having a horizontal throat forpassage therethrough of amargin of the cloth or the like to be measured out;

a measuring roller carried by said supporting means for rotation on ahorizontal axis below the throat;

a pressure roller carried by said supporting means above said measuringroller and movable between a raised retracted position in which it isclear of said measuring roller for insertion and removal of cloth and alowered contacting position in which it is resiliently held against saidmeasuring roller for gripping the cloth to be measured therebetween,whereby said rollers'are caused to rotate without slippage as said clothpasses between the rollers; means operable in response to rotation ofsaid measuring'roller for indicating the length of cloth passing betweensaid rollers; price computation means operable in response to rotationof said measuring roller for registering the price of the length ofcloth which has passed between said rollers; means operable for markingsaid cloth after a desired length thereof has passed between saidrollers to indicate the length of cloth measured out, said marking meanscomprising a fixed shear blade positioned in the throat in the verticalplane of the axis of the measuring roller, and a movable shear bladecarried by the supporting means for movement generally ina verticalplanethrough the axis of the measuring roller, -said movable blade beingcooperable with said fixed shear blade for notching the margin of thecloth;

means for effecting lowering of the pressure roller from its raisedretracted position to grip the leading end of the cloth between thepressure roller and the measuring roller including a trigger positionedrelative to the fixed shear blade and the rollers for engagement by theusers thumb as the user, grasping a corner of the cloth at its leadingend between thumb and forefinger, inserts the cloth between the rollersand moves it in rearward direction relative to the direction in whichthe cloth moves through the apparatus when being measured with thetrigger being operable to effect the lowering of the pressure rollerwhen the users thumb moves rearward of said vertical plane through theaxis of the measuring roller to grip the leading end of the cloth in thenip of the rollers substantially in said vertical plane;

means operable in response to actuation of said marking means forraising said pressure roller from its lowered contacting position to itsraised retracted position; and

means operable to reset said indicating means and said computationmeans.

2. Apparatus as set forth in claim ll wherein said supporting means hasupper and lower portions defining said throat, the lower portioncarrying said measuring roller and the upper portion carrying saidpressure roller, said fixed blade being positioned within said throatinwardly of said measuring roller with the upper edge of said fixedblade, constituting its cutting edge, substantially level with the uppersurface of said lower portion, said fixed blade and said movable bladebeing removably mounted on said supporting means for ready removalthereof and replacement with sharp blades.

3. Apparatus as set forth in'claim 2 wherein said movable blade ispivotally mounted outwardly of the fixed blade on a shaft carried bysaid supporting means, said blade being movable'between a raisedretracted position in which it is clear of said throat for passage ofcloth and a lowered cutting position in which it cooperates shearwisewith said fixed blade for notching the cloth, and having means biasingsaid movable blade toward its raised retracted position, and meansbiasing said movable blade axially inwardly on said shaft intoface-to-face engagement withsaid fixed blade.

4. Apparatus as set forth in claim 1 further comprising throat guardmeans movable upwardly in said throat from a lowered retracted positionin which the upper surface of the guard means is generally tangent tothe top of said measuring roller, to a raised blocking position in whichsaid guard means blocks the throat, and means for holding said guardmeans in its blocking position when said pressure roller is in its lowercontacting position for preventing a second piece of cloth from beingentered between said rollers until said pressure roller has been liftedto its raised retracted position, said guard means comprising a flappivotally carried by said supporting means for swinging movement on anaxis generally parallel to the axis of the measuring roller and in aplane rearward of the vertical plane of the axis of the measuring rollerin respect to the direction in which the cloth moves through theapparatus when being measured, said flap being swingable on its saidaxis between its lowered retracted position and its raised blockingposition, saidflap being resiliently biased to swing to its blockingposition.

5. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 wherein said guard means furthercomprises a pawl carried by said supporting means, said pawl beingmovable between a latching position engageable with said flap forholding the flap in its raised blocking position and an unlatchingposition in which said flap may be moved to its lowered retractedposition, said pawl being movable to its latching position in responseto movement of said pressure roller to its lowered contacting positionand being movable to its unlatching position in response to movement ofsaid pressure roller to its raised retracted position.

.6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 having means for preventingoverrun and reverse rotation of said measuring roller when the trailingedge of a piece of cloth being measured exits from between the rollers,and permitting said measuring roller freely to rotate when said cloth isgripped between said rollers for being measured,'said preventing meanscomprising a ratchet on the outer end of said measuring roller, and apawl engageable with the ratchet to restrain the measuring roller fromrotation in response to movement of the flap to its throat-blockingposition.

7. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said price computation meanscomprises:

roller chart means;

means for removably mounting said chart means in said supporting meansfor removal of the chart means from the support means as a unit;

means for driving said roller chart means from said measuring rollerincluding a quick-disengageable drive'connection to said chart meanswhereby said chart means may be readily removed from said supportingmeans and readily replaced by another; said roller chart meanscomprising a frame carrying a storage roll and a take-up roll for achart, said rolls being disposed in side-by-side relation, said framewith said chart rolls thereon constituting a unitary roller chartassembly which may be readily removed from or installed in saidsupporting means. I

8. Apparatus for measuring out lengths of cloth or the like comprising:

supporting means having a horizontal throat for passage therethrough ofa margin of the cloth or the like to be measured out;

a measuring roller carried by said supporting means for rotation on ahorizontal axis below the throat; pressure roller carried by saidsupporting means above said measuring roller and movable between araised retracted position in which it is clear-of said measuring rollerfor insertion and removal of cloth and a lowered contacting position inwhich it is resiliently held against said measuring roller for grippingthe cloth to be measured therebetween, whereby said rollers are causedto rotate without slippage as said cloth passes between the rollers;

means operable in response to rotation of said measuring roller forindicating the length of cloth passing between said rollers;

price computation means operable in response to rotation of saidmeasuring roller for registering the price of the length of cloth whichhas passed between said rollers; means operable for marking said clothafter a desired length thereof has passed between said rollers toindicate the length of cloth measured out, said marking means comprisinga fixed shear blade positioned in the throat in the vertical plane ofthe axis of the measuring roller, and a movable shear blade carried bythe supporting means cooperable with said fixed shear blade for notchingthe margin of the cloth;

means operable in response to actuation of said marking means forraising said pressure roller from its lowered contacting position to itsraised retracted position;

means operable to reset said indicating means and said computationmeans;

latching means for permitting operation of saidmarking means to mark thecloth being measured only at predetermined intervals of lengthcomprising a lever pivoted for movement between a latching position inwhich it is engageable by said movable 1 shear blade to prevent movementof the latter for notching said cloth and a retracted positionpermitting movement of said movable blade for notching said cloth, saidlever being biased to assume its retracted position; and

a peripherally notched wheel rotatable in response to rotation of saidmeasuring roller, said lever having a catch adapted to engage againstthe periphery of said wheel to hold said lever in its latching positionand to be received in a notch in the wheel as said wheel rotatesrelative to said catch permitting said lever to pivot to its retractedposition, one of said notches being in position to receive said catcheach time one of said predetermined intervals of cloth passes betweensaid rollers.

9.Apparatus for measuring out lengths of cloth or the like comprising;

supporting means having a horizontal throat for passage therethrough ofa margin of the cloth or the like to be measured out; a measuring rollercarried by said supporting means for rotation on a horizontal axis belowthe throat, said measuring roller having a plurality of annular groovesin its outer surface spaced at intervals along its length for receivingloose threads at the trailing end of cloth being measured; pressureroller carried by said supporting means above said measuring roller andmovable between a raised retracted position in which it is clear of saidmeasuring roller for insertion and removal of cloth and a loweredcontacting position in which it is resiliently held against saidmeasuring roller for gripping the cloth to be measured therebetween,whereby said rollers are caused to rotate without slippage as said clothpasses between the rollers;

means operable in response to rotation of said measuring roller forindicating the length of cloth passing between said rollers; pricecomputation means operable in response to rotation of said measuringroller for registering the price of the length of cloth which has passedbetween said rollers;

means operable for marking said cloth after a desired length thereof haspassed between said rollers to indicate the length of cloth measuredout; means operable in response to actuation of said marking means forraising said pressure roller from its lowered contacting position to itsraised retracted position; and

means operable to reset said indicating means and said computationmeans.

10. Apparatus as set forth in claim 9 wherein the outer surface of saidmeasuring roller between said grooves is knurled to facilitate grippingof the cloth between the measuring roller and the pressure roller whenthe latter is in its lowered retracted position.

11. Apparatus for measuring out lengths of cloth or the like comprising:

supporting means having a horizontal throat for passage therethrough ofa margin of the cloth or the like to be measured out;

measuring roller carried by said supporting means for rotation on ahorizontal axis below the throat; pressure roller carried by saidsupporting means above said measuring roller and movable between araised retracted position in which it is clear of said measuring rollerfor insertion and removal of cloth anda lowered contacting position inwhich it is resiliently held against said measuring roller for grippingthe cloth to be measured therebetween, whereby said rollers are causedto rotate without slippage as said cloth passes between the rollers;

means operable in response to rotation of said measuring roller forindicating the length of cloth passing between said rollers;

price computation means operable in response to rotation of saidmeasuring roller for registering the price of the length of cloth whichhas passed between said rollers; means operable for marking said clothafter a desired length thereof has passed between said rollers toindicate the length of cloth measured out;

means operable in response to actuation of said marking means forraising said pressure roller from tracted position; 7

means operable to reset said indicating means and said computationmeans; and

throat guard means movable upwardly in said throat from a loweredretracted position in which the upper surface of the guard means isgenerally tangent to the top of said measuring roller, to a raisedblocking position in which said guard means blocks the throat, and meansfor holding said guard means in its blocking position when said pressureroller is in its lowered contacting position for preventing a secondpiece of cloth from being entered between said rollers until saidpressure roller has been lifted to its raised retracted position; saidguard means comprising a flap pivotally carried by said support,- ingmeans for swinging movement on an axis generally parallel to the axis ofthe measuring roller and in a plane rearward of the vertical plane ofthe axis of the measuring roller in respect to the direction in whichthe cloth moves through the machine when being measured, said flap beingswingable on its said axis between its lowered retracted position andits raised blocking position, said flap beingresilientlybiased to swingto its blocking position.

1. Apparatus for measuring out lengths of cloth or the like comprising:supporting means having a horizontal throat for passage therethrough ofa margin of the cloth or the like to be measured out; a measuring rollercarried by said supporting means for rotation on a horizontal axis belowthe throat; a pressure roller carried by said supporting means abovesaid measuring roller and movable between a raised retracted position inwhich it is clear of said measuring roller for insertion and removal ofcloth and a lowered contacting position in which it is resiliently heldagainst said measuring roller for gripping the cloth to be measuredtherebetween, whereby said rollers are caused to rotate without slippageas said cloth passes between the rollers; means operable in response torotation of said measuring roller for indicating the length of clothpassing between said rollers; price computation means operable inresponse to rotation of said measuring roller for registering the priceof the length of cloth which has passed between said rollers; meansoperable for marking said cloth after a desired length thereof haspassed between said rollers to indicate the length of cloth measuredout, said marking means comprising a fixed shear blade positioned in thethroat in the vertical plane of the axis of the meAsuring roller, and amovable shear blade carried by the supporting means for movementgenerally in a vertical plane through the axis of the measuring roller,said movable blade being cooperable with said fixed shear blade fornotching the margin of the cloth; means for effecting lowering of thepressure roller from its raised retracted position to grip the leadingend of the cloth between the pressure roller and the measuring rollerincluding a trigger positioned relative to the fixed shear blade and therollers for engagement by the user''s thumb as the user, grasping acorner of the cloth at its leading end between thumb and forefinger,inserts the cloth between the rollers and moves it in rearward directionrelative to the direction in which the cloth moves through the apparatuswhen being measured with the trigger being operable to effect thelowering of the pressure roller when the user''s thumb moves rearward ofsaid vertical plane through the axis of the measuring roller to grip theleading end of the cloth in the nip of the rollers substantially in saidvertical plane; means operable in response to actuation of said markingmeans for raising said pressure roller from its lowered contactingposition to its raised retracted position; and means operable to resetsaid indicating means and said computation means.
 2. Apparatus as setforth in claim 1 wherein said supporting means has upper and lowerportions defining said throat, the lower portion carrying said measuringroller and the upper portion carrying said pressure roller, said fixedblade being positioned within said throat inwardly of said measuringroller with the upper edge of said fixed blade, constituting its cuttingedge, substantially level with the upper surface of said lower portion,said fixed blade and said movable blade being removably mounted on saidsupporting means for ready removal thereof and replacement with sharpblades.
 3. Apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein said movable bladeis pivotally mounted outwardly of the fixed blade on a shaft carried bysaid supporting means, said blade being movable between a raisedretracted position in which it is clear of said throat for passage ofcloth and a lowered cutting position in which it cooperates shearwisewith said fixed blade for notching the cloth, and having means biasingsaid movable blade toward its raised retracted position, and meansbiasing said movable blade axially inwardly on said shaft intoface-to-face engagement with said fixed blade.
 4. Apparatus as set forthin claim 1 further comprising throat guard means movable upwardly insaid throat from a lowered retracted position in which the upper surfaceof the guard means is generally tangent to the top of said measuringroller, to a raised blocking position in which said guard means blocksthe throat, and means for holding said guard means in its blockingposition when said pressure roller is in its lower contacting positionfor preventing a second piece of cloth from being entered between saidrollers until said pressure roller has been lifted to its raisedretracted position, said guard means comprising a flap pivotally carriedby said supporting means for swinging movement on an axis generallyparallel to the axis of the measuring roller and in a plane rearward ofthe vertical plane of the axis of the measuring roller in respect to thedirection in which the cloth moves through the apparatus when beingmeasured, said flap being swingable on its said axis between its loweredretracted position and its raised blocking position, said flap beingresiliently biased to swing to its blocking position.
 5. Apparatus asset forth in claim 4 wherein said guard means further comprises a pawlcarried by said supporting means, said pawl being movable between alatching position engageable with said flap for holding the flap in itsraised blocking position and an unlatching position in which said flapmay be moved to its lowered retracted position, said pawl beIng movableto its latching position in response to movement of said pressure rollerto its lowered contacting position and being movable to its unlatchingposition in response to movement of said pressure roller to its raisedretracted position.
 6. Apparatus as set forth in claim 4 having meansfor preventing overrun and reverse rotation of said measuring rollerwhen the trailing edge of a piece of cloth being measured exits frombetween the rollers, and permitting said measuring roller freely torotate when said cloth is gripped between said rollers for beingmeasured, said preventing means comprising a ratchet on the outer end ofsaid measuring roller, and a pawl engageable with the ratchet torestrain the measuring roller from rotation in response to movement ofthe flap to its throat-blocking position.
 7. Apparatus as set forth inclaim 1 wherein said price computation means comprises: roller chartmeans; means for removably mounting said chart means in said supportingmeans for removal of the chart means from the support means as a unit;means for driving said roller chart means from said measuring rollerincluding a quick-disengageable drive connection to said chart meanswhereby said chart means may be readily removed from said supportingmeans and readily replaced by another; said roller chart meanscomprising a frame carrying a storage roll and a take-up roll for achart, said rolls being disposed in side-by-side relation, said framewith said chart rolls thereon constituting a unitary roller chartassembly which may be readily removed from or installed in saidsupporting means.
 8. Apparatus for measuring out lengths of cloth or thelike comprising: supporting means having a horizontal throat for passagetherethrough of a margin of the cloth or the like to be measured out; ameasuring roller carried by said supporting means for rotation on ahorizontal axis below the throat; a pressure roller carried by saidsupporting means above said measuring roller and movable between araised retracted position in which it is clear of said measuring rollerfor insertion and removal of cloth and a lowered contacting position inwhich it is resiliently held against said measuring roller for grippingthe cloth to be measured therebetween, whereby said rollers are causedto rotate without slippage as said cloth passes between the rollers;means operable in response to rotation of said measuring roller forindicating the length of cloth passing between said rollers; pricecomputation means operable in response to rotation of said measuringroller for registering the price of the length of cloth which has passedbetween said rollers; means operable for marking said cloth after adesired length thereof has passed between said rollers to indicate thelength of cloth measured out, said marking means comprising a fixedshear blade positioned in the throat in the vertical plane of the axisof the measuring roller, and a movable shear blade carried by thesupporting means cooperable with said fixed shear blade for notching themargin of the cloth; means operable in response to actuation of saidmarking means for raising said pressure roller from its loweredcontacting position to its raised retracted position; means operable toreset said indicating means and said computation means; latching meansfor permitting operation of said marking means to mark the cloth beingmeasured only at predetermined intervals of length comprising a leverpivoted for movement between a latching position in which it isengageable by said movable shear blade to prevent movement of the latterfor notching said cloth and a retracted position permitting movement ofsaid movable blade for notching said cloth, said lever being biased toassume its retracted position; and a peripherally notched wheelrotatable in response to rotation of said measuring roller, said leverhaving a catch adapted to engage against the periphery of said wheeL tohold said lever in its latching position and to be received in a notchin the wheel as said wheel rotates relative to said catch permittingsaid lever to pivot to its retracted position, one of said notches beingin position to receive said catch each time one of said predeterminedintervals of cloth passes between said rollers.
 9. Apparatus formeasuring out lengths of cloth or the like comprising: supporting meanshaving a horizontal throat for passage therethrough of a margin of thecloth or the like to be measured out; a measuring roller carried by saidsupporting means for rotation on a horizontal axis below the throat,said measuring roller having a plurality of annular grooves in its outersurface spaced at intervals along its length for receiving loose threadsat the trailing end of cloth being measured; a pressure roller carriedby said supporting means above said measuring roller and movable betweena raised retracted position in which it is clear of said measuringroller for insertion and removal of cloth and a lowered contactingposition in which it is resiliently held against said measuring rollerfor gripping the cloth to be measured therebetween, whereby said rollersare caused to rotate without slippage as said cloth passes between therollers; means operable in response to rotation of said measuring rollerfor indicating the length of cloth passing between said rollers; pricecomputation means operable in response to rotation of said measuringroller for registering the price of the length of cloth which has passedbetween said rollers; means operable for marking said cloth after adesired length thereof has passed between said rollers to indicate thelength of cloth measured out; means operable in response to actuation ofsaid marking means for raising said pressure roller from its loweredcontacting position to its raised retracted position; and means operableto reset said indicating means and said computation means.
 10. Apparatusas set forth in claim 9 wherein the outer surface of said measuringroller between said grooves is knurled to facilitate gripping of thecloth between the measuring roller and the pressure roller when thelatter is in its lowered retracted position.
 11. Apparatus for measuringout lengths of cloth or the like comprising: supporting means having ahorizontal throat for passage therethrough of a margin of the cloth orthe like to be measured out; a measuring roller carried by saidsupporting means for rotation on a horizontal axis below the throat; apressure roller carried by said supporting means above said measuringroller and movable between a raised retracted position in which it isclear of said measuring roller for insertion and removal of cloth and alowered contacting position in which it is resiliently held against saidmeasuring roller for gripping the cloth to be measured therebetween,whereby said rollers are caused to rotate without slippage as said clothpasses between the rollers; means operable in response to rotation ofsaid measuring roller for indicating the length of cloth passing betweensaid rollers; price computation means operable in response to rotationof said measuring roller for registering the price of the length ofcloth which has passed between said rollers; means operable for markingsaid cloth after a desired length thereof has passed between saidrollers to indicate the length of cloth measured out; means operable inresponse to actuation of said marking means for raising said pressureroller from its lowered contacting position to its raised retractedposition; means operable to reset said indicating means and saidcomputation means; and throat guard means movable upwardly in saidthroat from a lowered retracted position in which the upper surface ofthe guard means is generally tangent to the top of said measuringroller, to a raised blocking position in which said guard means blocksthe throat, and Means for holding said guard means in its blockingposition when said pressure roller is in its lowered contacting positionfor preventing a second piece of cloth from being entered between saidrollers until said pressure roller has been lifted to its raisedretracted position, said guard means comprising a flap pivotally carriedby said supporting means for swinging movement on an axis generallyparallel to the axis of the measuring roller and in a plane rearward ofthe vertical plane of the axis of the measuring roller in respect to thedirection in which the cloth moves through the machine when beingmeasured, said flap being swingable on its said axis between its loweredretracted position and its raised blocking position, said flap beingresiliently biased to swing to its blocking position.